Walk. Pray. Love.
What a start to 2021! January has showed us many things but one thing really stands out; we are in the continuation of 2020. Some hope is beginning to spark with the COVID vaccine and numbers of new COVID cases going down and the number of deaths is declining sharply. Praise God!!! Yet, the reality that we live in a lost and dying world rings ever true.
We began 2021 with 21 days of prayer and fasting, and reading the New Testament aloud. Our prayer has been focused first for ourselves and family, and then our church. 7 prayer points for your personal life and 7 prayer points for our church:
For your personal life
- Lord, cleanse me from all known and secret sin. Ps. 19:12-13; Psalm 51; James 5:16
- Lord, fill me with the knowledge of Your Will. – Col. 1:8-9
- Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit. – Eph. 5:18
- Lord, help me to renew my mind according to Your Will and Word. – Romans 12:1-2
- Lord, by Your grace, empower me to have endurance in prayer and seeing Your Will done in my life. – Is. 40:31, Romans 5:1-5; Colossians 4:12
- Lord, help me to remain focused share the Gospel and be a minister of reconciliation to my family, friends, and those in my life. – 2. Cor. 5:17-21
- Lord, help me to be fruitful in all areas of my life and allow you to purge the things that do not glorify You, that I can be even more fruitful. – Gal. 5:25-26, John 15 (Abide in You)
For our church (Eastwood)
- Lord, that you would make us one in the unity of Your Spirit.Eph. 4:13, Ps 133, Col. 1:3, 1 Cor. 1:10
- Lord, that each member would walk in the fullness of forgiveness and in the light of Your Word. And, that we would live in holiness and consecration to You. – Eph. 4:1-6, Phil. 1:27-30, 1 Peter 1:13-16
- Lord, by Your Spirit and Power, we would see the enemy bound in our community, walls would come down, and the Kingdom of God advanced. – Matt. 6:9-13, Matt. 16:17-19; Ephesians 6:10-20
- Lord, we pray for our “ONE”. That would be see the lost saved and lives changed; and that we would reach the people and nationalities around us. – Luke 19:1-9; Rev. 5:9, 7:9
- Lord, that we would see our church grow in 2021. – Eph. 3:14-21, Eph. 4:14-16
- Lord, we pray for more laborers to go into the harvest of our community and we would be able to minister in a greater way to the poor, the orphan and the widow. – Luke 10:2, Matt. 9:36-38
- Lord, we fervently ask for Your protection and blessing on our children and students. – Matt. 19-13:15
We are going to remain steadfast and vigilant praying in these areas. Now we are going to add our neighbors to our prayer. Prayer Walk Your Block is a prayer campaign focused on those who live the closest to us, their needs, and building new relationships with those who need the life-saving news of the Gospel.
PRAYERWALKING:
Prayerwalking is a word that has been coined to combine praying with walking. It is implemented all over the world. Our International Mission Board (IMB) uses this strategy on the mission field to prepare the soil for the gospel. It is used also by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in our country for the same purpose. We are finding this method helpful in getting to know our community better. It also causes us to have a better feel for our neighborhoods.
This is an easy but powerful way to involve our church in a frontline pre-evangelism evangelism strategy. Anyone can do it, young and old alike! People who have trouble walking can drive their streets and pray as they pass the homes in their neighborhoods.
Praying On-Site With Insight
+Prayerwalking helps you see things, people, and needs that are right in your neighborhood.
+As you prayerwalk, your prayers extend beyond your own concerns. By focusing directly on the needs of your neighbors God will increase your love for them.
Pray with a Partner
+You can prayerwalk alone, but many like to pray with a friend. Jesus sent out His disciples in pairs.
+Pray out loud for clarity and better agreement. When you finish, jot down the prayers, people, and homes that jump out.
Ask the Help of the Holy Spirit
+Invite the Spirit of God to accompany you, guiding your steps and your words.
+Be attentive during moments of silence, allowing the Holy Spirit to help you see with His eyes.
+Remember the enemy wants to silence your intercession. Ask God to open the eyes of the people in the neighborhood. Ask Him to remove obstacles to faith.
Pray with Purpose
+Pray for the spiritual needs of people and places that you see.
+ In the future will have a map in the foyer to pin point your neighborhood or city.
+Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the people.
+If you see your neighbors while you are walking try to connect with them. Start a conversation. Say hello.
+Be consistent. Your prayers tear down strongholds and barriers to the gospel.
Prayer walking at Your Time
Leading up to Easter 2021 we will be prayer walking in our neighborhoods. We are calling it Prayer Walk Your Block. If your health keeps you from walking a lot, you can drive your neighborhood and pray. Take another person with you and alternate driving and praying. You can prayerwalk your neighborhood at any time.
Keep Your Eyes Open
Try to see the neighborhood through the eyes of Jesus. As you walk, pray. Ask God to increase your love for the people you live near. Walk, Pray, Love.
Exercise
We all could use more exercise. This is not the main reason but it is a side benefit to our health and stamina. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise!
Prayer walking tips
+Pray for Direction: Prayer originates with God, so talk with him about how to get started, “Call to me and I will answer you . . .” (Jer. 33:3)
+Start Where You Are: Don’t worry about whether you do everything just right, or what other people may think of you, “. . . Do not fear the reproach of men . . .” (Isa. 51:7). Lean on the Holy Spirit. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness . . .” (Ro. 8:26-27). Take a brief walk around your neighborhood asking God to give you eyes to see your neighbors as he sees them. Pray silently for them as God gives you insight.
+Use Scripture: “. . . So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Is. 55:11).
+Thank God that he loves your neighbors and pray that they would believe in Jesus (John 3:16). Ask him to bring them out of darkness. (Col. 1:13-14) Pray for them to be released from whatever hinders their faith. (2 Timothy 2:25-26)
+Involve Others: Invite a Christian friend/Church member to walk your block. Then go to their neighborhood and pray with them.
Prayer walking Prayers as You Walk Your Block
We can all use help in voicing our prayers out loud. The following prayer are suggestions. These prayers are based upon Scripture:
Pray for an OPEN DOOR
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word Colossians 4:2-3. Another way of saying this is a door of opportunity. Pray that God would give you an opportunity to talk to your neighbors.
Pray for an OPEN MOUTH
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, …. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should Ephesians 6:19–20 (NIV). God helps us open our mouth and say the right thing.
Pray for an OPEN WAY
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you…
2 Thessalonians 3:1. An open way means a clear path. If you’ve ever driven in road construction you understand how frustrating the barriers and detours can be. This prayer makes our path clear. Pray that God would remove the obstacles to conversations and friendships in your neighborhood.
Pray for an OPEN HEART
This is essential. God is the One who opens the heart of your neighbors. The following verse shows us that people need God’s push, His touch to listen to the message.
One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. Acts 16:14 (NLT)
Pray that God would begin to make your neighborhood open to the gospel. Ask Him to open the hearts of people on your block.
These four prayers are just a start. The Holy Spirit will direct your prayers. Listen carefully for His leading!
Beginning Sunday, January 31 we will kick off this campaign. On Sunday, February 7th we will ask you to pin your block on the large Tulsa Metro map that will be in the foyer. Then on Sunday, February 14 together we will commit before the Lord to Walk, Pray and Love in this prayer initiative.
Prayer Walk Your Block will continue throughout all of 2021. Phase 1 is our Easter initiative. Here are the 4 simple steps we will take together:
Step #1 – Prayer Walk Your Block once a week
- Ask the Lord to give you discernment to see things, people, and needs that are right in your neighborhood
- Extend your prayer to the direct needs of others and open yourself to see them with God’s eyes and heart.
Step #2 – Identify neighbors you can begin to build a relationship
Step #3 – Give the small booklet “The Case for Christ” to your neighbors (These booklets will be made available at the church by Sunday, March 7th)
Step #4 – Invite your neighbors to join us for Easter at Eastwood
Easter at Eastwood 2021 is going to be a power-packed weekend.
April 2 – Good Friday Service at 7pm
April 3 – Eggstravaganza from Noon – 1:30pm in Lindbergh’s playgrounds, featuring 15,000 eggs, petting zoo, crafts and games for kids, and special prizes for the whole family
Eastwood Student Easter Blowout at The Lundsford’s Hacienda from 4-8pm
April 4 – Resurrection Sunday – worship only at 10am
As we prayerwalk, we want you to keep track of the miles or minutes that you have prayed. As a church, we want to glorify God and hold ourselves accountable to pray. Each week we ask you contact your Sunday School leader or the church office to let us know either the number of miles you have walked or the minutes you have prayed. We are using a simple formula to calculate our total: 20 minutes = 1 mile.
We know not everyone is physically able to get out and walk. If you are not able to walk your neighborhood, then drive it. If you cannot drive, then pray over your neighbors using the simple guide above. Everyone can pray!
“You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore, spend and be spent in this work. And go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most…It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.”
– John Wesley
“If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence…? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!” – Keith Green
“Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival – men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations.” – C. H. Spurgeon
“Oh, to realize that souls, precious, never dying souls, are perishing all around us, going out into the blackness of darkness and despair, eternally lost, and yet to feel no anguish, shed no tears, know no travail! How little we know of the compassion of Jesus!” – Oswald J. Smith
“Why does the Church stay indoors? They have a theology that has dwindled into a philosophy, in which there is no thrill of faith, no terror of doom and no concern for souls. Unbelief has put out the fires of passion, and worldliness garlands the altar of sacrifice with the tawdry glitter of unreality. The Holy Ghost cannot conquer the world with unbelief, nor can He save the world with a worldly Church. He calls for a crusade, a campaign, and an adventure of saving passion. For this enterprise He wants a separated, sanctified and sacrificial people.” – Samuel Chadwick
